Fatal crashes in Rusk County, Wisconsin
In 2024, 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Rusk County, Wisconsin, up from 3 in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 32 fatal crashes and 34 deaths, the 54th most of 72 counties in Wisconsin.
Deaths in Rusk County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 | 3 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Numbered roads with fatal crashes in Rusk County
The 2 roads listed held 44% of all fatal crashes in Rusk County from 2015 to 2024; 1 US route, 1 state highway. 63% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 38% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US 8 | 9 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2 | State Highway 40 | 5 | 5 | 3 | no page |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Rusk County
31 fatal crashes in Rusk County, Wisconsin from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is May.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 9.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 6.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 1 fatal crash | 9.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 9.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.2%
- Feb3.1%
- Mar6.2%
- Apr6.2%
- May15.6%
- Jun9.4%
- Jul6.2%
- Aug15.6%
- Sep15.6%
- Oct9.4%
- Nov6.2%
- Dec0.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Rusk County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 28%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a rollover in 19%, a pedestrian in 13%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 9 | 28% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 8 | 25% |
| Rollover | 6 | 19% |
| Other | 5 | 16% |
| Pedestrian | 4 | 13% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Rusk County compare with Wisconsin
The largest difference from Wisconsin: from 2015 to 2024, 91% of fatal crashes in Rusk County were on rural roads, against 63% across Wisconsin. Below the Wisconsin share: intersections. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Wisconsin. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 32 crashes.
| Rusk | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 91% | 63% | above the Wisconsin share |
| At or near an intersection | 6.2% | 28% | below the Wisconsin share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 39% | 27% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A drinking driver | 38% | 33% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Speeding | 28% | 31% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.2% | 9.9% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | Not enough data | 48% | |
| Hit-and-run | 3.1% | 5.4% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| A motorcycle involved | 13% | 17% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 15% | 9.5% | about the same as the Wisconsin share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Rusk County, Wisconsin
- How many people died in car accidents in Rusk County in 2024?
- 4 people died in 4 fatal crashes in Rusk County, Wisconsin, in 2024, up from 3 in 2023. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- How many fatal crashes in Rusk County involved a drinking driver?
- 12 of 32 fatal crashes in Rusk County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 38%, against 33% across Wisconsin.
Other counties in Wisconsin with a page
- Milwaukee County
- Dane County
- Waukesha County
- Rock County
- Racine County
- Kenosha County
- Brown County
- Walworth County
- Outagamie County
- Dodge County
- Marathon County
- Fond du Lac County
All fatal crashes in Wisconsin, with every county ranked.
Where the Rusk County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Rusk County (county code 107). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/wisconsin/rusk-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”